“Thanks, Mandy. Everything looks awesome. I’ll talk to you later. Yes, I definitely want to see the list of companies we’re using for our product placement ads. Thanks again.”

I hang up the phone in my home office and rub my eyes. I stand from my chair and stretch, and when Nitro’s whine lets me know that he’s as ready for bed as I am, I reach down to pat his head.

These late nights are all going to be worth it come spring of next year, though. When we launch the Intelli Surface product line, SJI is going to skyrocket to the top of the tech world. Pride fills me every time I think about what I’ve accomplished, and how well the public has responded to our teasers.

Arden’s footsteps on the wood floor in the hallway outside my office makes me walk toward the doorway, ready to greet her. I hope my arms and she flies into them, her peach scent threatening to overwhelm me as it always does.

“Baby, it’s late. What are you—”

She cuts me off. “Flash…it’s time.”

My whole body freezes, everything around me going silent as I process the words she just said. Time. Time…holy fuck.

“Time time?” My voice lifts with wonder as my hands go immediately to her round, swollen belly.

She sucks in a sharp breath, one of her hands going to my shoulder and bunching my shirt in her hands. She doesn’t speak for a moment, and my heart launches itself into my throat.

“Bunny, talk to me. Are you okay?”

Jesus. Can I do this?

“I just got off the phone with my doctor, and she wants me to go ahead and come in. Contractions are getting closer, and…”

I silence her with my lips on hers. “Stay right here, baby. I’m going to grab your bag. Did you call Brooks?”

She squeezes my hand. “Yes. He’s already on his way. Should be here in a few minutes.”

Dropping a kiss on her forehead, I grab Nitro’s harness and we rush out the office door. “Good. Stay put, and breathe, baby.”

By the time I make it back downstairs, Arden is opening the front door for Brooks.

“Evening, folks. Heard we’re about to have a baby.” The smile is clear in Brooks’ voice, but all I want to do is get my girl in the car and safely to the hospital.

When we’re settled in the Suburban, Brooks takes off, and I keep Arden’s hand clasped in mine. She changes position several times, finally deciding to lay across the backseat with her head in my lap. She goes through three contractions in the car before we finally arrive at the hospital, and I’m pretty sure every nerve ending I have has been set on fucking fire.

“Good luck, Flash,” says Brooks, as I guide Arden toward the door of the maternity ward.

“Thanks, Brooks.” I call back over my shoulder. “Can you do me a favor and call Axel and Brantley?”

I catch his answer before the doors slide shut behind us. “Of course.”

The next half hour is a whirlwind as Arden is checked into a room, changed into a hospital gown, and hooked up to the machines that monitor her and the baby.

“I want,” she gasps, as she breathes through another contraction, “an epidural.”

“Of course you do, sweetie.” The nurse who’s been monitoring Arden sounds like she knows exactly how Bunny’s feeling. “But I just checked you, and we need to go ahead and get the doctor up here. It’s time for you to push.”

“Already?” Arden squeaks, and my stomach clenches with fear.

“Is that normal? This seems fast. Is everything okay with the baby?” I fire questions at the nurse as I run a reassuring hand along Arden’s back.

“Everything looks just fine.” Arden’s OB enters the room with a calm, soothing tone in her voice.

Breathing out a sigh, I nod. “Okay then.” Turning to Arden, I place my face right beside hers, speaking into her ear. “You’ve got this, baby. Let’s get ready to meet our baby girl.”

I feel her hair brush my cheek as she nods.

“We’ve got this.”

* * *

Nothing has ever felt like this.

Joy, fear, awe, and an overwhelming urge to vomit are all at war inside me. I run my hand all over the tiny bundle in my arms, warm and soft and so fucking fragile.

“Tell me what she looks like, Bunny.” I swallow, the emotion almost getting the best of me as I cradle our daughter to my chest.

Arden’s voice is a caress against my soul, soothing me, calming me. “She’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, Flash. She’s got your stormy gray eyes and your coloring. But she’s also got light hair and the cutest little nose. Her lips are so cute and perfect. I…God…” She swallows, and I sit down beside her on the bed. “She’s perfect.”

I drop a kiss on my daughter’s forehead, and the little sound she makes takes my fucking breath away. Shifting her into one arm so I can grab Arden’s hand with the other, I lean down and press my lips to her forehead, her lips, and then I move to whisper in her ear.

“Our little girl…Dahlia… is going to have the best life, I promise you that. I can’t even put into words how I’m feeling right now, Bunny. You just gave me the most amazing gift, you know that?”  I pull back, making sure she can see my face. “I love you so damn much.”

She sighs. “I love you too, Flash. So much.”

Nodding, I let go of her fingers and place her hand on my lap. “I’m going to ask you to give me one more gift.”

She sniffles, and I know that her face is wet with her tears. “What?”

Slipping the ring from my hand onto her finger, I whisper the words I’ve wanted to say for so long now. I’m glad I waited until our daughter was in the world.

“Marry me.”

Arden’s answering sob, and the kiss that never fails to make my heart beat faster, tells me everything I need to know.